Meet our Vice-Chancellor

Professor Caroline McMillen, MA, DPhil(Oxon), MB, BChir(Cantab)

Vice-Chancellor and
President, University of Newcastle

Professor Caroline McMillen joined the
University of Newcastle as Vice-Chancellor and President in October 2011.

Professor
McMillen has dedicated almost 30 years to the higher education sector,
holding leadership roles across research, innovation and teaching. She
holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford
University, and completed her medical training at the University of
Cambridge.

In 1983, Professor McMillen moved to Australia to
lecture at Monash University. In 1992, she was appointed Professor,
Chair and Head of the Department of Physiology at the University of
Adelaide. In 2005, she accepted the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor
and Vice President: Research and Innovation
at the University of South Australia, a position she held until her
move to Newcastle.

As a biomedical researcher, Professor McMillen
is internationally recognised for her work into the impact of the
nutritional environment before birth on the risk of developing
cardiovascular disease and obesity in adult life.

Her research
group has been funded continuously for two decades by both the
Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research
Council. She has published more than 200 publications and been invited
to present at more than 70 international and national meetings.
Professor McMillen
is also currently the Chair of the Endocrinology, Reproduction and
Development Commission of the International Union of Physiological
Societies - the only Australian Chair on this international body.

Over
her career, Professor McMillen has trained more than 50 Honours and PhD
students who have gone on to win national honours and fellowships and
made significant contributions in diverse careers, including research,
industry, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and education.

She
has served on state government groups focused on: building innovation,
climate change, manufacturing and the resources industry. Professor
McMillen was a member of the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and
Innovation Council Working Group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders focusing on
maternal and peri-natal health. She has served as Chair of the
Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research
Council's grant review panels.

Professor McMillen is committed to
building collaborative partnerships between universities, government,
industry and communities that directly contribute to the economic,
environmental, social and cultural health of Australia.